Golden Gate Casino in Las Vegas Drops Live Dealer Games

The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, the oldest operating hotel in Las Vegas, has announced its plans to remove all live dealer table games from its floor and fully replace them with electronic versions. Owner and CEO Derek Stevens was excited about this new direction, underlining the enhanced engagement possibilities of the updated offerings.

More Venues Are Shifting to Electronic Offerings

This shift marks the first time a downtown property has fully embraced electronic games. Stevens, CEO of Circa Hospitality Group, the company behind the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, Circa Resort & Casino, and The D, noted it was time the oldest hotel in Las Vegas embraced the future. He added that the new offerings should provide guests with a new, high-energy way to engage with their favorite games.

We’re reimagining our casino floor with a high-energy electronic table games pit unlike anything downtown has seen. Expect more excitement, faster gameplay, and all the newest machines.

Derek Stevens, Circa Hospitality Group CEO

The number of live table games in Golden Gate has been on the decline, so this development is not entirely unexpected. According to Stevens, table game staff from the venue will receive the opportunity to move to Circa Resort & Casino or The D. Alternatively, affected employees can seek positions within other departments of the company.

This strategic shift aligns with broader trends within the gambling sector. Live tables require dealers, supervisors, security staff, and other ongoing expenses on cards, chips, and licenses. Electronic alternatives eliminate those expenses and facilitate faster, autonomous play while minimizing compliance challenges. However, some players feel that going all-digital removes the human element from the experience.

Table Games as a Whole Remain Popular

Live Table games in Nevada are becoming increasingly more difficult to find. Earlier this month, The Poker Palace Casino, an iconic property that opened its doors in the mid-1970s, announced it will be shutting down operations on October 1, 2025. The property did not delve into the exact reasons behind the closure, only noting that changing economic realities have hindered its ability to sustain its business model.

Despite the ongoing shift to electronic, table games as a whole are thriving. While official revenue reports do not separate live from electronic table performance, Nevada Gaming Control Board data revealed that May’s non-baccarat table revenue rose 2.4% to $222.6 million. These results are especially relevant considering Strip casinos experienced a 3.9% drop year-on-year.

For the Golden Gate, the shift marks the end of a chapter in its 118-year history. While some may lament the loss of human contact, going all electronic could be necessary to avoid following the fate of The Poker Palace Casino. With properties on the Strip facing increasingly challenging economic conditions, continued adaptations remain critical.